Sonja Marquis and Emmi Veinbergs in “Always … Patsy Cline” at Dexter’s Encore Theatre. (Photo by Michele Anliker)

A “Saturday Night Live” writer once said that the show could leaven a risky sketch simply by putting Amy Poehler in it, calling the comedienne “a charm machine.”

But Dexter’s Encore Theatre, now staging Ted Swindley’s “Always … Patsy Cline,” may now lay claim to its own charm machine: Sonja Marquis, who plays a brassy Houston single mom (and Cline fanatic) named Louise.

When Louise learns that country music superstar Patsy Cline (Emmi Veinbergs) will be performimg in her town, she heads out to the venue hours early; meets and befriends the country music star; and convinces Cline to forgo her hotel reservation and instead spend the night at Louise’s home. After staying up into the wee hours sharing stories, the two women exchange addresses and sustain their friendship through a series of letters.

This set-up may sound far-fetched, but the two-hour show was inspired by a true story. And although the show is primarily a showcase of Cline’s music and distinctive vocal style, the admittedly light story of Cline’s friendship with Louise provides the show with a loose narrative framework. READ THE REST HERE